Vehicle.



LE VERT CLARK.

VEHICLE.

APPLIOATIOR nun 00-1". 19, 1001.

1,069,228, Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

B SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 nvcntor witnesses LE VERT CLARK.

VEHICLE.

APPLIOATIOH 21mm 001 19, 1907.

1,069,228. Patented Aug. 5,

3 SHEETS-SHE; 2.

1.9L as 3mm Mioz wit" an:

LE VERT CLARK.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 19, 1907. 1,069,228. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T Hi Fig. 14, g-15 Iitnnu a I v Iuumta LE VEB-T CLARK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

Application filed October 19, 1907. Serial No. 898,300.

To all i how it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Ln VnR'r CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at l)etroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

Thi invention relates to improvements in vehicles especially of the automobile type; in which a mechanical elastic unit, hereinafter described, co-octs horizontally with other portions of the vehicle, as an integral part. thereof, to sustain the vehicle body, or substitute therefor, in an elastic way by what might be termed, an arrangement of box-spring suspension for the body and ground wheels, respertively. Its further object is to bring the elastic unit into connet-lion with girders, standards, overhang, braces, wheels, body, and other portions of the vehicle and its propelling and steering parts, in such a way as to permit the use of power applied sii'nultaneously to the front and rear wheels, respectively, to propel and steer the vehicle; or by the slight modification of the front truck as shown, the front wheels alone may be steered in the ordinary way by stub axles while the power is applied only to the rear wheels in any of the usual ways.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top view of a vehicle embodying this invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side elevations of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 a diagram of a front; truck, a moditicd detail f the let end of Fig. 1, coupled to the rear truck, n detail oi the right end of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are rear and side elevations, respectively, of the left end or detail of Fig. 4. Figs. -7 and 8 are rear elevations of modified details of the upper right end of Fig. 4; the lower members out hway being the some as in 1 and 4. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the right end of Fig. 4 modified, the same as in Fig. 8, showing an adaptation or function of a rear truck, Fig. 2. Figt'ltl is a side. elevation partly in section of the elastic unit, a detail of the vehicle. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of Fig. 10, and of the larger dian'ieter of Fig. 13, the shaft and casing having radial oscillation relatively to each other. Fig. 12 is a cross-section oil. Figs. and 13, modified by dispensing with the elastic elements, of said figures. except in \itrticnl-plan s of cscillation and drawing in the sides oi the casing to form a prisn-i. Fig. 13 is an elevation of a detail partly cut away, of pair of ratings having a waist or portions of re duced diameter, on a single shaft. Fig. 14. is an end View of Figs. 10 and 13. Fig. 15 a crosssection on line 16-l ii of Fig. 13.

Similar numerals and letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

12 represents the horizo'i'ital girder in which are assembled a pair of ground wheels on an axle shaft 1&5. Said girder may be on a line with or in the plane above or below the horizontal plane in which lies the axle shaft 13. 14 are standards rising vertically front said girders and passing across and down to the same or a similar girder opposite. 1 designate the horizontal portion of the standard as the overhang.

15 are braces to stiffen the girders 12 and frame in relation to the standards and overhang; other struts, braces and drop portions of overhang may be used as needed, as in Figs. 8 and 9.

16 are braces connecting parallel portions of the overhang.

I7 and 18 are ordinary journal boxes and bolster springs for the wheel axle, and shaft similarly placed in standards and the like verticals, connected to the overhang, Figs. 8 and 9.

19 is a casing portion of the elastic unit of Fig. 10, the same as 19 of Fig. 13 and 19" of Fig. 12. -the latter being of prismatic form, making a box casing for the resilient ole merit oscillating only vertically as hereinatter described. 20 is a shaft longitudinal therethrough and designated as 20 when it (Ufllflb with the ground wheels in the ordinary way as shownjn Fig. 5.

21 is a collar around the middle of the casing and designated by 3t when around the ends, as shown in Fig. 7.

2'3 is a plate attached to the overhang. 23 is a king-bolt, whi h may extend downward as far as desired. vii-acting with the casing 19; it forms the axis of an ordinary fifth Wheel" placed between the overhang and casing. The upper hall ol the fit'th wheel is attached to the overhang by bolts 24 and the lower half to the casing 15) of Fig. 2 in a similar way (not shown) by which n-ioans the wheel axle may be turned in either direction like the front truck of an ordinary vehicle.

a is a cross brace.

are the side bars or floor sills, of a vehicle body, which may be attached to the unit by its shaft 20 of Figs. 1 and 7 or to the casing 19 of the 27 are reach poles connecting the forward to the rear truck member by bolts 28 and 29. 30 is another ordinary form of reach which may be fastened to the rear truck at 31 or acting with the king-bolt and the fifth wheel, in the way of the ordinary wagon pole, not necessary to illustrate. Other forms of reaches may be used to couple the trucks together; for example, 12 attached at 233 of Fig. 4 when the forward is of different construction from the rear truck, as is usually the case with ordinary vehicles.

I make no specific claims for the means illustrated to couple the front and rear trucks together, whether they are either of the same or of different construction and operation.

In Fig. .3, the lower ends of the standards 11* are attached to the ends or closures of the casings unit 19"; they being the same as the standard 14 and casing when differently placed; whereby the ground wheels may support the ends of the units shaft in the usual way, by stub axle, common to front trucks of ordinary automobiles, not, 1 he necessary to particularly describe. shafts may be fixed or revolubly placed inside the casings, as may be desired, to meet the usual conditions where used. In the upper portions of the truck they would be preferably dead and in the lower they may be either dead or live axles. The usual side thrust bearings and collars, not shown, will keep them in place.

The upper shaft 20 may be suspended below the overhang between the standards acting as guides to hold journal boxes, holding the shaft, having better springs above and below the boxes in a way similar to that of the axle 13 in Fig.

The vehicle body has additional resilicncy from the springs inside the casing 19 as will be hereinafter described. The front or the rear truck member of Fig. 4, modilied in Figs. 7 and 8, differs from Fig. 2 only in the method of suspending the upper elastic unit which is apparent on inspection without especial differentiation. Fig. 9 is a rear truck member the same in its essential overhang as that in Figs. 2,4, 7, and 8, with reinforcing struts 37, supporting any heavy body; for instance, a light; cannon 35 on its trunnions 36 which to all intents and purposts is the ame as casing l! and shaft 20 oi Figv 58, mounted in drop portions of the erhang. tlcy being \.X'tl ;lior standards,

and like them. onn ted to the overhang.

flaring est-r led the 21min of using the unit in the wh ch of my invention, whose frtnt and rear trucf; flh-lil ttlS are of differt Hl c'mstructioo a! d apable of slight moditirrtil l't in the same spe ies of vehicle, and whi h are tut ther capable of being coupled,

unit, in Figs. 5 and 8.

l the two front truck forms together, or the two rear truck forms together, or the front and rear truck forms making a single vei lt1cle,I will now describe the elastic unit itself, the basis of the device as shown in Figs. l0, l2, and 18.

To stunmarize, 1.) and i I 4 19 are casings similar to each other wlnch may preferably 2 be modified to a box like or prismatic form i if) in Fig. 12, when used as in Fig. 5 and j III the upper portion of the other figures. l The cross-section Fig. 1:2, differs only from i Fig. 11 in the absence of all resilient elel mcnts inside the casing except. in lines vertical, above and below, the normal horizontal plane in which lies the shaft. Qt) is a i shaft somewhat longer than the casing; and 1 20 the shaft when two casings are combined on the shaft which may be preferably placed l e centric with the casing 19" to give greater 1 vertical elasticity between the shaft and the l upper or lt)\\(l $ltl of the casing from whence comes the greater weight or force to resist For instance, place the shaft above the (enter of the upper and below the center of the/lower casing, in the prismatic form in Fig. 12; which although more desirable is not nccessat'y to its action the shaft may 3 be concentric with the CZl ll1gS as shown. In 3 any event the shaft and :asing become eccentric with each other in Fig. 12, under the heaviest load without buckling or injury to the springs; wherein this construction differs from all other devices.

5 is a tube in which the shaft is placed and easily removable therefrom.

O is the end closure perforated at J to allow the shaft and casing freely oscillate relatively to each other wi hout contact. K is a closure to cover and slide over said perforation. The resilient element in this instance is represented by spiral springs L seated vertically to the horizontal plane of the shaft, in Fig. 1'1, and radially in Figs. 10 and 13, though other resilient elements may be so employed between the shaft and casing.

.\I is a medium upon which are seated.

In Fig. 13 there are two casings 15)" placed on a single shaft 20" having a reduced portion or waist N around which may be tclescoped a larger tube P, and inside a similar tube R, both to give stiffness to the casings in relation to the shaft 20". The waist may be used as a seat.or place for driving gear-wheels and differential gears in the ordinary way if the unit is to revolve as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 2 and l in dther rear truck members. The larger port. on 19" may used in co-acticn with Iwhccls circumscrilnng the same, whereby l the springs each wheel will turn on the axle l3 indeperdently of the other in rounding curves, l or the wheels connected to shaft 20", Fig. 5.

. running ,integra The operation of the unit is such that when the casings are held stationary, the inside shaft may be freely oscillated relatively thereto within the limits of its move ment, which is vertical only in Fig. 12 and radially in the other figures; and conversely, when the shaft is stationary the casing may be oscillated in the same way. Thesides of the casings may be opened up 'or cut away, as much as need be, to give access to the shaft inside for the purpose of inspection, repairs, or for placing propelling or other connections upon the shaft for operating the same, without impairing the resiliency, strength, or elficiency of the unit. The casing also affords places or seats for attaching other co-acting parts of the vehicle or the driving and stopping devices in the ordinary way not necessary to, illustrate. T unitwitn the co-acting parts. is

an integral partof the vehicle itself and absorbs jolts, strains and stress and transmits tendant upon the r use, under heavy loads or rdinary speed, entirely cease,

What I cla m is: i

1. In a vehicle, the co bination, with the gear, of an elastic unit forming an part thereof, furnishing spring support to the, vehicle and for other purposes; which embodies a horizontal shaft, of a length approximating the width of the whicle, circumscribed by a casing somewhat shorter than the shaft, both axially transverse to the vehicle; a perforated closure secured on each end of the casing through which the shaftprotrudes;

the perforations being of such size and shatpe as will permit the shaft and casing to reely oscillate transversel to each other the width of, the vehicle wit in the limitations of their 'action; a plurality of bolster springs inside the casing resiliently supporting and spacing only in the planes of oscillation the shaft and casing relatively to each other; and -ineans for o-pei'atively connecting respectively, other portions of the running gear, also the wheels and body sills to the unit-only at its ends nearest each respective side of the vehicle, and to portions of the unit substantially midway be tween its ends, as may be respectively required in the construction and operation of the vehicle.

a vehicle, the coinhinatign, with the illiii illlg gtagg of unit.- forming an integral part thereof, furnishin spring support for the vehicle and for ot er purposes, which unit comprises a horizontal non-rotatable prismatic casing member circuinscribin a shaft longer than the casing; a per orated closure on each end of the casing to which it is attached; the perforations being relatively of such length as will permit the shaft protruding at each end to freely oscillate therein, only in substantially vertical planes within the limitations of its action; and bolster springs placed, to act only vertically, inside the cas ng, relatively supporting the shaft and casing and omitted in'other directions radial to the shaft, so, .that there will be no relative resiliency except as stated in substantially vertical lanes in which the shaft and its casing are imited to oscillate transversely to each other.

3. In a vehicle, the combination, with the running gear, of an elastic unit forming an integral part thereof, of a length approximating the width of the vehicle, furnishing spring support for the vehicle and for other purposes; which unit comprises a horizontal casing made into two similar sections axially transverse to the vehicle and circumscribing a single shaft somewhat longer than the casing; a perforated closure onthe end of each section, to which it is secured, the perforations being of such size and shapeas will permit the protruding shaft to freely oscillate therein within the limitations of its action the width of the vehicle; means, for connecting and holding the sections in axial line with each other, self contained as to the unit irrespective of the shaft and vehicle body and sills, which may lessen the weight without operatively impairing the practical axial continuity of the units casing; hcilster springs inside the casing, relatively supporting the shaft and casing when oscillating transversely to each other within the said limitations of their action; and mcans for connecting the unit to other portions of the running gear, to the wheels and lo the body sills as may be respectively required in the construction and operation of the vehicle.

4. [n a vehicle, a truck having in C0111 binntion two horizontal shafts one in a plane above the other, placed transversely to and forming'a part of the running gear and approximating in length the width of the vehicle; each single shaft being circumscribed by a casing somewhat shorter than the shaft;

spripgs inside each casing relatively supp rl'lng the shaft and'casing; eachof which casings containing springsand shaft constituting an elastic unitfurnishing spring support to the vehicle and for other purposes sills Off/lie vehiclebodyoperatively.

connected only to the outer ends of they upper. unit: and ground whenlsef the ved opposite standards secured at their bases connected to the running gearabovetlieaxle hicle operatively connected to the outer endsof the lower unit; theupper and lower units being operatively assembled together within opposite vertical portions, of the truck 5 frame, having their tops joined across the track by an overhang portion of the running gear, substantially as describedi' I n a vehicle, a truck having in combination an overhang connecting thetpps of to the. running gear; a wheel aide shaft, oscillating vertically onf standards as guides; a horizontal casing, ofaleflgth approximating the width of truck operatiyely shaft, circuinscribing a 'second shinft somewhat longer than the casingan extending through it; and springsplaced inside the casing relatively supporting said casing-and. shaft; which casing, its shaft andsprings together constitute an elastic unit. support-' ing the end of the vehiclebody by means of its fiooi sills, each sill being operativelyv connected only tothe oiiter-endiof the elastic unit, substantially as described.

6. In a vehicle, a truck having-in combi nation twoelastic units; each unit ha ving, a. horizontal casing, approximating in length than the casing: springs inside'the casings resiliently supporting the shafts, so that the casings and shafts inay oscillate within the limitations of their-action; the units 86 being opei'ativcly asseinbled'giii -a.-fraine having opposite standards connected by an overhang; and vehicle body sills coi'inected to the upper unit and'vehiclewheels operatively connected to the lower unit.

7. in a vehicle truck, the conibination of a horizontal portion of a truck frame called, its overhang, which overhang connects together, across the vehicle, the tops'of a. plurality of vertical guides secured and braced to the truck frame 'lits'elf; a hearing member, on each 'side of the truck for a shaft journal and the like, lipid by the ver- --ticals 'andsliding therebetwcen; the bearings being placed in a horizhntal'planc be low the overhang and above-the wheel. axle "and capable of oscillatingindependentlyof the wheel axle. which Hearings l-Nllil in tended to sustain the load carried by the tiluclr by ii'ieans of the said shaft journal resting upon the bcai-in, which journal is operativcly ('Olll'lfliltlldtl and-supports a 'chich-Qhody and the like: the b aring beiug capable of oscillating in the vertical guides to and from the overhang"; the vehicle body and the like not lit-inf;otherwise f supported by the overhang ZHHL ilIC vcrii cals: springs seated on the bearings lo give elasticity to the l ad: and. a separatewheeli axle shaft. in a horiz ntal plane brlow the aforesaid bearings, having its ,own' bearings bolster springs above and belowsaid journal boxes; and a horizontal overhang connecting the tops of similar standards on opposite sides of said truck, which frame is a portion of the running gear supported by 80 the said bolster springs over'said journal boxes upon the wheel axlclshaft, substantially as described.

9. In a vehicle, a truck having iIl'COIlibination a horizontal girder engaging'with 35 an axle shaft of the vehicle wheels by means of journal boxes placed on said wheel axle, so as to slide vertically in standards secured and braced to said girder on opposite sides of the truck; an overhang connecting the, top of said oppi.-site standards; an elastic unit. casing'c( inected, at its middle, midway to said overhang; a longitudinal shaft the width of the vehicle placed transversely ,30 thereto, and circuniscribing a shaft longer through the casing; springs-inside the casing supporting the shaftand easing relatively to each other; perforated closures on the ends of the casing; a fifth wheel placed" between said casing and said overhang portion;' vehicle body sills supported bythe shaft of the unit; and means to connect, in alternate. relation, the,truck' to another truck member. Y I 1 i 10. In a'vchicle, a truck having in combination a pair of elastic horizontal units in different planes, one above the other; each .10 of which units consists of a casing portion,

perforated closures covering the ends of said casing: a shaft extendinglongitudinally through the casing for outside support'at v each end of the shaftrsprings inside'each casing supportin the shaft andcasing rela- I tively to each oticr; vcrtical'standards, at-

tachcd to each lower unit; an overhang connecting thetops of one of said standards to the top of an opposite standard siinila-rlyl placed: journal boxes mounted to slideupon' each of the standards acting as guides; vehicle wheels operativelyconnected with the shaft of the lower unit and vehicle-body Sills supported by the npper'unit; and

means for connecting Said truck to another truck.

ll. In a vehicle. a truck having in conibiuuticn a horizontal overhang; vertical standards sup orting each end of the over i hang: secured and braced to horizontal girders;- a horizontal casing of the elastic unit, Ctllllltlfltd. tosaid overhang; a shaft extending longitudinally through said casing to-engage with othfi' parts'of the runniug gear outside the casiugya tube. in-

side the unit around said shaft: springs .inside. the easing supporting said shaft and biuation a'wheel axle shaft, operatively connected to vehicle wheels, assembled in said truck; a horizontal curved girder connected to said shaft which supportsit: standards arising from and secured t0 said girder'ou each side of the truel an overhang extending in a general direction parallel with the. v

axle from the top of one standard to the top of the opposite standard on the same truck; braces and rods eouneetiug the overhang to the said girder: verti ads ,on eat-h side of the trueksecured to the said overhang: said vertical portions of the l'llllttlllg gear artiug as guides to'journals mounted to slideflonly rertiealtx' thereon and holster springs above and below said journals, substantiall as d scribed.

13. In a vehicle. a truek having in (one lIllltltlUll a hoiizontal elastic unit. ousisting olf a easing portion: 'ier'torated elosures (HY- ering the ends of said easing: a shaft 'extendingl ngitudinally through the easing; sutheiently. liar, outside. the easing to engage on each end of the shaft in the usual way with a reluele wheel; springs in the easing supporting the sliaft.; t he'ends of the vehule body sills supported by the casing of the unit; and means for coupling the truek to another truck.

14, ln a vehicle, a truck havingin conibination, a pair of the described elastic units in l'iorizontal planes,-' one above the other;

(:tt'll of u'tiieh units is of a length approxiplating the width of the vehiele and consists of a easing portion; perforated closures covering: the ends of the easing; a shaft extend iug longitudinally through each casing sutlieiently far for outside bearings 01 support; at each end of the shaft; tubes inside the units iuelosing each shaft; springs inside each easing sinJporting the shaft and tubes;

"means to (connect said units operatively together in the said horizontal planes; and

velnelewheels engaging in the usual way with the ends of the shaft of the lower unit and vehicle body sills supported by the upper unit. v

1.5. In a vehicle, a truck having in eomhiuation, a pair of'elastie units'each 0t :1 length approximating the. width fof the vehirle. plat-ed in different planes, one above the other, each of which units consists of a rastu; portion. perforated elosures closing the ends of said easing: a shaft extending l( 'ltlt(lllltlll through each easing suitieientl far for outside supportat each end of the shaft: tubes inside each unit around the shaft: springs inside eat-h easing sup porting the shaft: means for operat'ively rennet-ling the said units in'surh a \\'a that the lower unit may turn in theare of a horizontal t-irrle while the upper unit remains l'tl:tti\' -l statioua.r as to said lower 'uuit: rehiele body sills supported by the up'per unit: vehiele "wheels engaging with the lower unit; and means to couple said truck to another truck.

In testimony uhereof'l' atlix my signature in ,preseuee of two witnesses. v LE VERT CLARK.

\Y i t nesses I). Q. W IH'IHLER, 

